Essence Festival tickets go on sale

NEW ORLEANS - Tickets for the 2012 Essence Music Festival are about to go on sale.

Ticket sales start Friday for the 17th annual festival, which will include empowerment seminars and musical acts July 6-8 at the Morial Convention Center and Superdome in New Orleans.

A lineup has not yet been announced.

Previous musical acts for the festival - billed as one of the largest gatherings of black artists in the country - include Mary J. Blige, Chaka Kahn, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Prince.

The festival began in 1995 as a one-time event celebrating the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine.

The festival hosts influential speakers, artists and authors, as well as musical acts in the genres of rhythm and blues, pop, rap and soul.